Want to win a copy of “Dyeing to Knit” by Elaine Eskesen? Knit or crochet your fanciest, most colorful or most wildly patterned 6-inch square from a washable material such as cotton or acrylic. Designs should be worked fairly tightly and not include open work. The names of those who send a square will be entered in a drawing for the book. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number.

Squares will not be returned. They will be sewn together into small blankets and donated to The Animal Orphanage and the Bangor Humane Society to serve as beds for cats.

Deadline for receiving the squares is Friday, Feb. 17. The winner of the book will be announced in the By Hand column Tuesday, Feb. 28.

Elaine Eskesen, the author of “Dyeing to Knit,” is the owner of Pine Tree Yarns and lives in Damariscotta where she has for many years engaged in the art of hand-dyeing yarn.

“Any knitter can learn to dye,” she writes. In the book, she lays out the dyeing process before the reader, presenting information about color relationships, dyeing procedures, the design phase and patterns for knitting.

“Knitting,” she writes, “is now being augmented with a more creative approach … it is a creative outlet, and learning to dye your own yarns is another way to engage in this art form.”

The book focuses on dyeing protein fibers such as wool, mohair, silk and angora. Eskesen offers a variety of techniques for hand-coloring yarn, including painting, overdyeing, tie-dyeing, spotting and squirting.

In one section of the book, six yarn designers, including Bill Huntington, owner of Hope Spinnery in Hope, share sources of inspiration. Waves inspire him.

Patterns in the book include baby sweaters, pullovers, children’s sweaters, scarves, mittens and vests. My personal favorite pattern in the book is the Maine Bounty Sweater which calls for silk, mohair, boucle and wool yarns in various colors, and a skein of hand-painted worsted-weight yarn.

The book publisher is Down East Books. Ask your local bookseller about the book or visit www.downeastbooks.com.

For a to chance to win this book, send squares to: By Hand, Bangor Daily News, PO Box 1329, Bangor ME 04402.

Snippets

. A reader has this suggestion for crocheters who find that arthritic fingers make holding a hook an aggravation: Get a package of soft pencil grips from the local office supply store and slip one onto your crochet hook. This works for hooks with a shaft as big around as a pencil.

. To learn more about how to participate in the Orphan Foundation of America’s Red Scarf Project, an effort to collect hand-knit or crocheted scarves in shades of red to send to foster youth in Valentine’s Day care packages, visit www.oprhan.org.

The Orphan Foundation of America advocates for older foster youth who never were adopted and offers a scholarship and support program. The foundation estimates that 13,000 foster youth attend colleges and universities this year, most without family support. Statistics indicate that fewer than 50 percent of foster youth graduate from high school and fewer than 18 percent go on to colleges or vocational training programs.

The scarves are meant as messages of warmth and encouragement to foster youth attending college.

The Red Scarf Project is endorsed by The National Needlework Association and Interweave Knits magazine.

. A reader e-mailed to recommend these Web sites for knitters: www.knittingatknoon.com/home.html where you will find free patterns and knitting help; and www.knittinghelp.com where you will find online learn-to-knit videos.

. Craft courses offered this semester at the SAD 22 Adult Education Program are knitting, decorative painting, rug braiding, and scrapbooking. Call 862-6422 to obtain more information. The Adult Ed office is open 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday and 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday. The office is closed Fridays.

Ardeana Hamlin may be reached at 990-8153, or e-mail ahamlin@bangordailynews.net.